Sally S. Pelingon: 67 Years of a Life Well-Lived

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(Taken from the Biography of Mrs. Pelingon during the Necrological Service in her honor on April 30, 2011 at the Municipal Social Hall, Tobias Fornier, Antique, Philippines, read by Mrs. Cecilia M. Nacepo, Principal I)

  Mrs. Sally Clarito Saroca - Pelingon lived a life of 67 years that is full of joy, love, happiness, challenges, and lots of success stories. The smart, strong woman and a model master teacher we have admired and worked with has finally joined our Creator on the 12th day of April 2011 after 8 years and 4 months fighting breast cancer.

 

The Late Sally C. Saroca - Pelingon was born on November 6, 1943 as a first child of her parents Tedorico Mifuel Saroca and Emilia Nierva Clarito of Poblacion Sur, Dao, Antique. She attended her elementary grades at Dao Central School and has consistently been an honor pupil until she graduated as First Honors of Dao Central School Class of 1952. She went on with her studies at Dao Catholic High School but after her mother had a complicated birth to her youngest brother, Miss Saroca has to quit school for two years. At DCHS, Miss Saroca was an active and smart student. She was a member of the student government and later became its president on her senior year. She graduated as Valedictorian of DCHS Class 1961. She studied her BSE major in Elementary Education at Iloilo Normal School (now West Visayas State University) and graduated as among the top of her class in 1965. She started as a Grade II teacher at Igdurarog Primary School in 1965 and stayed in that station for almost ten years. In 1975, she was assigned at Abaca Elementary School but after a month, she was transferred to Dao Central School as a Grade VI Section 1 adviser. At one time, while at Dao Central, she was requested to be at Diclum Elementary School as a reliever for an ailing teacher. It was here where she met her future spouse Mr. David F. Pelingon of Fatima. They got married on May 18, 1977. This marriage made Mrs. Sally Saroca Pelingon transfer permanently to Diclum Elementary School in 1979 up until her retirement in January 1, 2004 at the age of 60. While in Diclum, Mrs. Pelingon made several achievements and distinctions for herself and the school in the division, regional and national levels. She was promoted as Master Teacher in 1986 and was named three times in a row as one of the ten most outstanding master teachers in the Division of Antique. In 1982, she was also sent as a MECS scholar to study Elementary Science Teaching at the University of the Philippines - Diliman. During the 1990s, Mrs. Pelingon was largely involved as one of the resource persons and writers tapped by the Department of Education and UNICEF in the formulation of the Multi-Grade Schools system in Antique and in the Philippines.

 

As a mother and wife, Mrs. Sally S. Pelingon had lots of success stories. She and her husband were blessed with four bright children: a registered nurse, a Human Resource executive, a radiologic technologist, and a master teacher. They were also blessed with two cheerful grandchildren

 

Her life after retirement in 2004 and after her cancer diagnosis in 2002 were her most meaningful and most colorful and at same the time her happiest years. It was on these years that the teacher became a leader and a proud cancer fighter. She was Chairman of Barangay Pastoral Council of Fatima and at the same time, Chairman of its Basic Ecclesiastical Community. She was likewise a member of the Barangay Lupon of Fatima. She is also a leader of the study club group of Dao Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Chairman of the Credit Committee, Chairman of the Education Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dao Multi-Purpose Cooperative. It is amazing to know that all these functions were served by Mrs. Pelingon effectively all at the same time.         

                       Mrs. Pelingon passed away on April 12, 2011 at the UP Manila - Philippine General Hospital after a complication in lungs due to her breast cancer that was diagnosed in December 2002 and recurred in August 2010...She died ready, happy, and contented with the 67 years of a life well-lived. She will always be remembered for her strong character and leadership, warm personality, and brilliance of the mind.